Barry Melrose, former coach and beloved ESPN hockey analyst, dies at 70

Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who was a beloved, longtime hockey analyst for ESPN, died Wednesday, his wife, Cindy, told ESPN's Steve Levy. He was 70. Melrose was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2023, leading to his retirement from ESPN. He had first joined the network in 1996. Melrose served as coach of the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings, taking them to the Stanley Cup Final in the first of his three seasons (1992-95). He stepped away from ESPN in 2008 to return to the bench, this time as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games. Overall, he had an 84-108-29 record as a head coach. As a studio analyst at ESPN, he was known for his witty personality, flashy suits and recognizable goatee, slicked-back hair and mullet, which endeared him to hockey fans worldwide. He regularly worked alongside Levy and John Buccigross on ESPN's hockey coverage, including All-Star Games, Stanley Cup playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final. At the time of his retirement, Gretzky paid tribute to Melrose by saying: "He's bigger than any team. For decades, he's been suiting up -- and I mean suiting up -- for the game, for the sport, for hockey. ... You see, hockey is more than a game, it's a community -- a finely tuned orchestra -- and Barry was our conductor." Melrose began his coaching career in 1987, when he led the Medicine Hat Tigers to the WHL's Memorial Cup title. He also coached the Seattle Thunderbirds for the 1988-89 season and the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League for three seasons (1989-92), winning the Calder Cup championship in 1991. During his 11 years as a player, Melrose played 335 career games as a defenseman in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings (1979-86). He also played three seasons with Cincinnati in the WHA (1976-79). Overall, he finished with 10 goals and 33 points and 728 penalty minutes in 300 NHL career games. His WHA totals were five goals and 32 points and 343 penalty minutes in 178 games with Cincinnati.